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Highlands seeks more time to spend cash

All of the pieces are falling into place, but Highlands hopes to get a time extension when it comes to using the $400,000 provincial grant

The clock is ticking for Highlands to build a community hall.

All of the pieces are falling into place, but council hopes to get a time extension when it comes to using the $400,000 provincial grant.

The district was awarded the grant through the Towns for Tommorrow in 2008 and it expires March 31, 2013.

“We are looming very close and there is not a lot of time,” said district administrator Chris Coates.

Highlands council requested a meeting with the minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to ask for an extension. A meeting date has not been granted at this time.

The conceptual designs of the hall are complete and the district is in the process of finishing a detailed design. At that point Highlands will send the project to tender. It has been estimated the project will cost between $800,000 and $850,000.  Highlands has currently budgeted $710,000 including the grant money.

Once the project goes to tender, Highlands will have a more accurate figure to work with, said Coates

“(Then) we’ll see if the cost can be absorbed by council or if we’ll scale back. It will ultimately be budget dependant,” Coates said.

 

The community hall is proposed for the corner of Finlayson Arm and Millstream roads.